A/N: Hello everyone. Please do not give up on me. I was very ill the first week and very busy and humid the second week. Thus I know its been two weeks. But to reassure all, I am absolutely committed to this story in every way. And it will come sooner I promise.

Stewart Residence

151 Tigertail Road

Malibu, California

The same morning that Theo and Miley are eating breakfast.

Day 1 of 7 of Ransom time limit.

Robbie Ray Stewart stares at his MacBook Pro. He doesn't know what to do. He had just been given an untraceable message. More importantly along with its instructions, it had an ominous warnings attached to it.

He replays the message.

Message:

A man in full ski mask appears in a home made Apple Mac video message with no clues in the background. This man is not Theo and his voice is synthesized.

"Good Morning, Robbie Ray Stewart. If you turn to the news you will find that Zombie High star Jake Ryan is dead. You can thank us later. However, we also have your daughter Miley. How we know you or your name is not important. Who we are is not important. What we want is very important to the health and well being of your daughter.

Miley's video

"Daddy, daddy, it's me Miley. They took me. They killed Jake for you and now they have me. Oh, how could you do such a thing? They say they'll kill me too if you don't pay them what that want. Oh, please daddy, don't let me die, I'm scared. I'm scared.

Video ends.

She doesn't know the truth. We want $2.5 million US in unmarked bills. We want it over a series of 5 drops, $5 million each at different locations in California. I suggest you use your already stackable cash in both your Bank of America and Swiss accounts, then your Hannah liquid assets, then side profits.

Robbie Ray is stunned and now scared. The kidnappers knew about Hannah's accounts and his managerial assets, both of which were hidden to even the IRS.

You will have a full week to come up with the all money. This is a more than generous deadline and a modest fee considering as the manager of the famous Hannah Montana; you would have accumulated 20 percent of more than $20 million each year she was still tops.

You should also keep in mind we had no hesitation in eliminating Jake who has done us no wrong. So imagine how much easier it will be to eliminate Miley, who if you don't cooperate, will be reason we lose millions of dollars.

And finally, we have eyes and ears everywhere and know everything including within police and government. If you doubt our seriousness, please remember that we had the both the resources and the intelligence to be able to nab Jake and Miley at precisely the right time with little risk to us. Inform any police, FBI, or outside party and you can pick up your daughter in a body bag.

You will get more messages such as this one giving you instructions to carry out. Complete these properly and you will have your daughter back unscathed. We have no interest in your daughter beyond this, and you will never, ever hear from us again if we get the money.

$2.5 million is quite a sum, so we suggest you get working.

Remember, Time is on our side, not yours.

FBI National Academy

Behavioral Science Graduate Course Lecture

Part 3

"Included in these traits are the prisoner's belief (correct or incorrect, it doesn't matter) that he or she cannot escape, which means that survival must occur within the rules set by the all-powerful captor; and the prisoner's isolation from people not being held by the captors, which prohibits any outside view of the captors from infringing on the psychological processes that lead to Stockholm syndrome. In the most basic, generalized way, the process as seen in a kidnapping or hostage situation looks something like this:

In a traumatic and extraordinarily stressful event, a person finds herself held captive by a man who is threatening to kill her if she disobeys him in any way. According to the captor, escape is not an option. She will end up dead. Her family may end up dead, too. Her only chance at survival is obedience."

Highway I-5

Later that day

5:29 p.m.

By this time Theo and Miley were both already on their way to Big 5. The unmerciful California sun was making its final bow before retiring and handing the stage over to night by now. However…

Theo's POV

"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid F-K!"

That's right, I was berating myself mercilessly. It's just great that in less than half a day I had broken the cardinal rule of the business. Why I had to lose my cool and get…get…personal was beyond me. It sickened me that me…me a Marine can just spill his guts to the opposition. What the hell was I thinking in trying to convince Miley with such zeal?

Back at the recruiting depot, Drill Instructor Fitch would have been stomping my guts out for my breach of conduct. What I did was inexcusable.

From now on, no more f-k ups.

It's business all the way.

I'm glad I took a nap before setting out.

This is the reason why Theo had set out so late after Tom's warning.

I was very relieved that I was able to set myself straight and clear things up with Miley before starting for the freeway.

No, not physically.

She may be in bad shape. But I am a killer (USMC espirit de corps).

And my eyes are killing me. It's good that I can still drive.

Miley's POV

I don't know what to think anymore. After all Teddy had done for me, all it took was a nap and Teddy was a brute again.

Miley is saddened and closes her eyes while feigning exhaustion.

I guess people don't change. Don't change at all.

But what is Teddy?

First he brings me up, then knocks me down, than brings me up again just to knock me down?

He's a monster.

What kind of sick game is this?

And I know…I just know he's planning something.

But WHAT?

Why would Dad hire this man?

Does he wanna kill me, or do me, or WHAT?

All I know is that he has me.

And I don't know what to do anymore.

I thought he was just a dumb brute. I could have forgiven a dumb brute.

But not him.

"If I ever get out of this, I'll never forgive you Teddy," Miley said to herself silently as she looks towards the driver's seat.

Oh hell, what am I saying? I'm never gonna get out of this. Never, never…

All this time, Miley is blindfolded again and just looks to her left without saying a word.

"Oooowwww," I whined softly as I try to nurse my left hand.

Miley's left hand, which had been burned on the stove when Jake stuck her in their dorm kitchen, had grown ever more reddish since then. The make up that Jake made Miley add to hid it before going out had only aggravated the wound. It is only now starting to blister and could get worse without treatment.

Theo gave one look to Miley's hand and without a single second to spare reached into glove compartment and pulled out a first aid kit.

He rummages through it with the kit on his lap and his attention on the road and pulls out a few tubes before finding what he is looking for.

I may not be able to see much but I know that Teddy's looking for something.

I soon hear the rummaging end and for a moment all is quiet.

The next thing I know, Theo yanks my blindfold off and shoves something near my chest. A little too close to my chest if you ask me.

I look down and see a tube of ointment.

"Afterburn," Teddy tells me.

I take it and quickly rub it on. It stings so much, but I know that Teddy doesn't want to hear whining. But surprisingly it gets much better. In fact it is starting to feel much better. A tingling feeling, but soothing and even comforting.

It's ironic.

Jake told me he loved me, but wouldn't do squat for me.

Teddy couldn't care less about me, but has given me so much, including the cream.

I can't help but wonder.

How should I feel?

He snatched me. But look at what Teddy did for me.

But why would he give me food?

Why would he rescue me?

And why would he give me Lily's bracelet back?

Fix it too?

That's the problem with being held hostage. Too much time on your hands. I bet real hostages are too scared or confused, but I have too much time on my hands.

Well, he did help me. But Jake could do all that too.

Oh, who am I kidding.

"Thank you," I eek out as I hold my hurt hand.

"Wrap it," he told me as he gave me rolled up gauze while adjusting the bandana that was over his mouth, covering his identity.

What? Why?

"It's too far gone. Wrap it or it'll infect. It'll help the healing go faster."

I'm very grateful he gave me this. He has no reason to lie. But as I take a quick look around I notice, for the first time, that the windows are well tinted. No one could possibly see in.

But the one thing that I can't keep my attention off of is Teddy's right elbow. I remember how I cringed when I saw Corretta swing that knife at Teddy.

Teddy didn't care then, he was after me.

But what gets me is that Theo didn't seem to care after, either

All that time after the alley his attention, his focus was on…

Me.

It was only after he packed us up and started on the highway did he bother to even fix himself up.

Jake would have never had done that.

Hell, I remember the attention Jake wanted after he cut himself while carving turkey.

Whining, swearing, and even bitching about it. (It wasn't like me to swear).

Yet here Teddy is, ready to look over me, after all he's been through. After all that I myself put him through. He's still so…so…

Noble.

In… an…urban sort of way?

Oh sweet niblets.

Forget that.

But I have to think of how to stay on his good side.

Miley's attention then turns to...

Oh sweet heavens. His cut. It's seeping.

Miley could see what Theo was trying to ignore. He had put his bandage and gauze wrap on haphazardly. And it was coming undone and not doing a good job of either stopping the blood or giving support.

I try to tell Teddy with my eyes.

I never could take blood.

Yet I still can't look away.

It sounds so stupid. I've never seen a real man bleed before.

Jake made such a big deal about me seeing him wounded anyways. He wouldn't let me even look at it.

Yet with Theo I feel as if I have to tell him.

"Your arm," I start.

Theo looks at Miley and looks at his elbow.

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body," Teddy replied with a reassuring look to me (Another USMC belief).

Theo thinks that Miley is concern about the pain. But while ignoring the pain, Theo doesn't notice the bleeding and the seepage through the gauze.

Miley just looks at Theo. When Theo looks at her, she quickly looks down. This doesn't fool Theo.

Miley continues to look at Theo with concern. Theo begings to realize and feel that there's blood.

"Ok, gimme the kit,"

I watch Theo as he tries to rebandage his right elbow with his left hand, all while trying to drive with his right hand. Taking out a gauze and wrap was hard enough while driving, but then he insisted on

I couldn't tell whether it was pride or concentration that made him try all of this while driving. He wasn't doing a good job at it. Obviously, anyone would have a tough time doing all this while driving an oversized SUV.

He fumbles and fumbles, even almost dropping the whole kit to the floor.

He doesn't want to admit defeat.

For a moment he pauses to refocus on the road.

I look at him and wait patiently for him to ask me…

I know he has his manly pride but I hope he isn't too proud to continue on…

It's ok Teddy, I'm here. Tell me if you need me.

"Miley," Teddy begins.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Be a doll and help me," he asked.

I knew it. I just knew it. I can help him. I will help him. I mean he can't all be that bad.

"You ok with blood?"

I freeze. I had just remembered. I can't take blood very well. Sure, a small paper cut here and there. But this was real blood. Quite a bit of it.

"I…I don't know," I reply.

"Two seconds ago you wanted to help me with my elbow. Now what?" Theo replied rather annoyed.

I don't know how to reply.

"Oh for the love of…I'm not gonna hurt you if you're helping me. You don't have to be scared…"

"I'm not scared of you. It's the blood."

There I said it. It never came up and no one else other than Dad knew that about me.

I was a chicken when it came to blood.

Blood made me sick. I was scared of blood since I was small.

Dad was the one who had to sow up Luanne's (my pet pig's) stomach when she split it running for me. I remember staying in my room and crying for her.

I look to Theo to respond. I hope he doesn't get angry.

Instead he calmly asked me…

"You played with dolls when you were a little girl"

What?

"Well?"

"Bears, when I was little"

"And was there ever a time when they 'hurt' themselves?"

"Yeah, one time Jackson threw my Beary out my bedroom window, and I nursed him back to health," I replied embarrassed because I said it a little too proudly.

"Right and I bet you had to nurse her boo boo's by putting on band aids"

"Yeah I... did…I wrapped…"

"Ah ha! See you were about to say wrap a bandage around the bear's arm weren't you"

"Yes…"

"So you can do the same for me, right?"

I paused and look away. I don't believe it. Theo was something else. He was right.

"C'mon Miley, I need some help. And you're probably not nearly as bad as Ryan said you were, so get over him."

Amazingly enough, Theo had correctly crushed the source of Miley's hesitation.

Years of being told she couldn't.

"But the blood, I'm afraid…"

Theo remembered this. And after taking a few short breaths…

"Miley, do you know why fear exists?"

"What?"

"Answer my question, yes or no, do you know why fear exists?"

"No."

"Fear exists to be conquered," Teddy replied.

I don't know what to say.

"Today is the day you conquer your fear of blood, it'll be the first step. The easiest one considering Ryan"

I gulped.

"But Teddy…" I whine trying to get out of it.

"No, Miley, you don't have a choice. Now either we do this now, or I'll open your door and throw you out of the car."

Miley realized at 60 mph with speeding traffic, she'd be road-kill in 5 seconds.

And I'm back to being scared of Teddy. Sort of.

"First use the scissors in the kit to cut away at the strips."

I do as I am told. I try to keep it together as I carefully cut through more and more layers.

Then the hard part comes….

"Ok now I need you to peel away at the layers carefully...look at each layer carefully before taking off a new layer. If bleeding starts again…you'll see the same layer becoming redder and redder, then stop."

I try my best as each layer revealed to me reveals a darker shade of red.

White…white…light pink…pink…dark pink (creep)

I try to steel myself but I'm feeling ever more nauseous.

"Miley, I know you're getting sick, just keep breathing and calm down. But keep breathing...just so you don't pass out. Try to separate yourself from whatever I'm feeling, just keep going."

I don't feel as I can go on, but I really don't have a choice do I?

Light red, red…that's it…I see a really dark red gash through the thin layer. It's starting to bleed again and just before it does…

I gag.

"Miley! Just focus. I'm guessing you found the right layer…Now just take the clean gauze roll and wrap it around everything you see that is dark red going darker."

That had done the trick. Now I was ready to treat it.

Miley looks closer and see that the wound was a very deep gash that had cut away in one haphazard slice separating the two sides of skin and muscle and creating a mini canyon of darker blood.

I'm ready to vomit at this point, but I continue.

"Miley, just wrap it in a criss-cross, partial overlapping motion. Just do it tight and only on the wounded areas. No sense wasting gauze."

The vomit collecting in my lower throat continues to be subdued back to my stomach as more and more layers cover and conceal the gash.

"Ok, that's enough."

Thank God.

"Now all I need you to do is pull out the bandages…the brown elastic like things…"

Oh no. Not again. He doesn't want me to do all that again does he.

And as if he was reading my mind…

"Relax Miley, this goes on top of the gauze. Wrap it like you did before on top of the gauze but you can overlap skin above and below it too.

"Ok…"

Teddy doesn't reply, yet his expression, or what I could see from the exposed parts of his face tells me he's grateful.

"Thanks…for rescuing…. me," I said, having forgotten to thank him before now.

Teddy seemed very surprised. He looked up and gave me a look, but turned back and continued on but not before saying…

"Oh…(long pause) you're…welcome," Teddy gradually replied.

Somehow I can still feel guilt in his voice and for some reason flush in my cheeks